Challenges

Part XXIV

***2015 ***

Once they got back to the hotel room they both decided to get to bed early. They had gotten little sleep over the last few nights, plus Jason had to be at the airport by nine in the morning. Jason had curled up next to Justin and had his head resting against his shoulder. Justin on the other hand was laying on his back looking at the ceiling.

He had fallen asleep quickly, but something had awoken him, or at least he thought something had. He looked over at the digital clock on the nightstand: 1:00 AM. The moon light was filtering through the curtains casting various shadows around the room. It was peaceful and quiet.

At first he thought it was a dream; that dream where the mystery man appeared. But it wasn't. He now knew who the mystery man was, and that man was lying next to him.

"What are you thinking about?" Jason asked groggily and with a half sleep voice.

"Sorry if I woke you." Justin said, looking over at Jason. His eyes were still closed, but he had a smile on his face.

"I could hear you thinking." Jason grinned. "Or maybe it's the smoke I smell from you thinking."

"Ha, ha." Justin said with a chuckle. "How mature of you."

"Always." Jason put his arm around Justin's chest and snuggled closer in. "Are you okay?"

"Yea." Justin said, closing his eyes as he felt that electric buzz run through him. "Just thinking about the last few days, and honestly this past week."

"Oh?"

"I had a history teacher once tell me that history is an echo, or a shadow. It is always present, and sometimes it influences our present more than we would like, much like the shade of a tree can impact the surrounding plants." Jason closed his eyes and took a deep breath, held it and let it out slowly. "My past is casting shadows right now."

"Is that a bad thing?" Jason asked, pulling Justin in closer.

"No." Justin smiled as he felt the warmth radiate from Jason.

"Your dad said you were happier then he has seen you in a long time."

"I am. I think I am happy and content." Justin rubbed Jason's arm.

"Good." Jason mumbled as he fell back asleep. "I'm glad you are happy."

Justin asked Jason what his dad had told him, but Jason just said it was a conversation they needed to have. Justin let it drop. This last week and a half spent at home had caused him to relive some happy moments, and some sad ones.

He kept going back to the thought of Lily. What were the chances that she was Jason's therapist in California. That she was responsible for getting him put back together and that without her, most likely they would never have met. That Matt had met him on his mission, and been insightful enough for that letter.

Justin was not a fan of the ideas of fate, but maybe there was something to this. Maybe, just maybe, this was his happy- ever-after.

***2000***

The wedding day had approached much quicker than Justin expected. The school year started, and senior year was everything that he believed it would be. The classes were semi easy, minus his math and English classes, and he had half the day off since he was caught up on credits. This meant more time to spend with Nate, but also more time working at home for his dad.

"Are you ready?" Justin asked, walking into Matt's room.

"Yea." Matt was adjusting the bow-tie on his tux. He had gone with a dark blue vest and tie and Justin was in a blood red vest and tie.